I'll use this platform to review books I've read (and movies I've seen and are still worth watching), advertise my published books, say a few words about writing and reveal something of my world.

Monday, February 27, 2017

February Digireads comments on "Ishmael's Quest"

After years on the beach, Ishmael lands the second-in-command
berth on the ship Pilgrim, a hide ship that needs to be converted to a whaler.

The master, Captain Strunk and the syndicate backing the voyage
to hunt Moby Dick have chosen Ishmael since he was the only survivor of the
ship Pequod, which was destroyed by the great white whale.

Nantuckers want nothing to do with signing aboard Pilgrim so the
crew is catch-as-catch-can, and Ishmael hopes such a happenstance is not anomen of
bad tidings to come.

Pilgrim leaves Nantucket with a chief harpooner that has never
struck a whale, an educated landlubber who's never been to sea and a captain
who will not man a boat to chase leviathan.

Even the successful killing of a right whale does not bring more
than a temporary respite to Ishmael's dark thoughts about finding Moby Dick and
confronting the rogue whale.

Will Pilgrim withstand all the rigors of sailing after its
quarry? Will Captain Strunk forgo demon rum to perform his duty? Will Baha's
secret be revealed? Pilgrim sails on as these questions are yet to be
answered.,

Pilgrim calls at St. Helena. Captain Strunk exhibits his
penchant for calling on islands to reprovision and, at the same time, removes
any temptation for the crew to jump ship.

Ned Hanford, ever curious, seeks the lodging Napoleon Bonaparte
used during his exile. Unknown to him he's broken a cardinal ship's rule: only
the captain can give permission for sight seeing. He receives five lashes for
his infraction.

Ishmael has discovered one of Baha's secrets and knowing that
sheis
female becomes attracted to her. He struggles with his feelings because to show
them would put her in danger from the crew.

Pilgrim sails on and calls at the port of Colombo. The crew is
given a four-hour liberty. Hanford and McDonough do not return within the
four-hour curfew and Hanford has to pay the price with another more severe
punishment. Strunk gives McDonough a pass because punishing an officer would
diminish the crew's respect for his authority and could, in his eyes, lead to
mutiny.

Once clear of Colombo Pilgrim sails for the frigid water of the
Antarctic. A whale is spotted and two boats are launched to give chase. The
whale destroys Ishmael's boat and McDonough's boat is lost in rescuing Ishmael
and his crew.

Captain Strunk decides the ship will call at Van Dieman's Land,
again another island to prevent any potential ship jumping.

Pilgrim drops anchor in Hobarton. The crew is given shore leave
and Ishmael seeks a replacement carpenter.

Nesbitt plots a sexual encounter with Ned Hanford. It does not
happen.